Rave and Review

FlipFlop Wines {They're Flippin' Good}

I’ve always been intrigued by the wine section of our local stores, but I find shopping for wine rather intimidating.  Whenever it was my job to pick a bottle for our book club or dinner date, I would harass the clerk and other shoppers asking for suggestions, or merely pick a bottle based on how cute the label was.  The problem with this method is that shopping takes forever, budget is not usually discussed, and I rarely like what I buy or think it goes well with the meal served. 

Recently I was introduced to flipflop wines and found that enjoying wine is a whole lot less stressful than I was making it out to be.  What could be easier than 3 bottles of flipflop wines all packed nicely and shipped directly to my home to enjoy?  How about if they told you how to enjoy them best? 

Once they arrived and I took them out of their packaging, I realized immediately that these were no ordinary “stuffy” wines that required a manual and a dictionary in order to enjoy them properly.  Not only are the labels incredibly cute and laid back in design, I also love that it was just a quick glance at the label and I knew where to store each bottle in its optimum spot – whether it was the fridge or the very-neglected wine rack. 

The next thing that makes them stand out is that their wine has a super handy “cheat sheet” label that has all the information you need to serve and enjoy.  In addition to the storage and serving suggestions, the back of the label also tells you what to pair them with and how it rates in terms of dry or sweet.  For someone like me that knows nearly nothing about wine, this is just about the coolest thing that I can imagine. 

Our first night with the flipflop wines I was cooking up my famous pork tacos when my husband announced that the Riesling said it paired well with pork tacos.  Thinking he was joking, I couldn’t believe it when he brought over the bottle and there it was, right there on the back - we took that as a sign, and immediately opened up a bottle to have with dinner. 

As cool as the handy storage guides, taste scale, and pairing ideas are, we certainly wouldn’t be raving about flipflop wines if they weren’t delicious.  And, oh boy, are they delicious!  My husband and I are anything but wine connoisseurs, or really drinkers for that matter, but we both were completely taken with the three flipflop wines we tried and are dying to try more. 

Unlike the other 12 bottles of wine I have in my house that I’ve collected over the past decade, the Pinot Grigio, Riesling, and Pinot Noir flipflop wines were here for mere days before they all were enjoyed.  The fact that they were all enjoyed so quickly isn’t merely based on the fact that we were reviewing them, it was because enjoying them was so easy – and delicious.  We all loved them so much that we are still talking about them weeks later and planning when we can enjoy them again. 

It would be hard to pick a favorite of the three varieties we tried, but we did slightly prefer the white wines over the red, especially during the warmer weather that lends itself nicely to chilled white wines during and after dinner.  We loved the flipflop wines so much that we have been telling everyone about them and sharing them with friends.  Seriously, if they can take two non-wine drinkers and make them this excited about wine, you can bet they are pretty superb!

As if overall deliciousness, ease of enjoying, lack of pretentiousness and fun designs wasn’t enough, I was really excited when I found out that flipflop wines also gives back in a very big way.  In 2011, flipflop wines is partnering with Soles4Souls Inc., the international shoe charity that gives free shoes to those in developing countries, to help them achieve their goal of 11 million pairs of shoes donated.  For their part, flipflop wines has agreed to give one pair of flip flop sandals for each bottle of flipflop wine purchased (up to 100,000 pairs for the first 100,000 bottles sold) where the promotion is legal.

You heard about how much we all love the wine, how perfect it is for entertaining and relaxing, and then how much the company gives back, and I’m guessing you think a bottle is going to cost a small fortune, right?  You’d be wrong!  At only $7 a bottle, flipflop wines are not only the perfect complement to any party or occasion, they are also perfectly affordable!  For more information, stop by the flipflop wine Facebook page or the official flipflop wine website.

A big thank you to flipflop wines for sending samples to be reviewed and converting us to wine lovers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Anamalz Eco-Friendly Wooden Animals {Review & Giveaway}

Have you seen anamalz before?  We ran across these adorable bendable animals a few months back in a specialty store near us and were immediately smitten.  As cute as they looked in the display, they were even more irresistible when played with.  Because of their bendable limbs, they are fun to position and pose however you would like and it added so much more fun to our play.  We seriously entertained ourselves with that display for the entire time we were at the store, and then when it was time to leave, we said our reluctant goodbyes.

I wasn’t surprised at all when anamalz made it onto my daughter’s birthday wishlist a few weeks later and we were both thrilled when she opened presents at her party and found that a few contained some anamalz friends.  All of her friends also went crazy for the little anamalz, and as they sat and played with them, I made a note that we should definitely wrap up a few as presents for her friends throughout the year. 

Because anamalz are made with a combination of wood and fabrics and each have at least one body part that is fully bendable, they add a whole new dimension to the traditional animal figures and make playtime even more fun.  Being able to pose your critters and give them their own personality really gets little ones’ imaginations going and allows them to add in another level of play and creativity that we love. 

And, of course, they are simply adorable.  There’s just something so classically cute about anamalz that makes them look like a little bit of child-friendly modern art, and thus, a kid magnet.  My daughter can’t walk past the drawer that holds her collection without peeking inside and playing for a minute, and I really can’t say I blame her. 

We were really excited to review a few more anamalz this spring and add to our collection as well as add one of the anamalz trees to our play.  Since they arrived, we have spent hours “feeding” the bendable animals the apples off the tree and it’s one of my favorite new toys because it goes so well with all the animals and makes setting up scenes even more fun. 

I haven’t seen the trees in retail yet, but that’s likely because they are flying off the shelves as the anamalz craze picks up.  After seeing some of the awesome anamalz playsets they have pictured online {the farm! the treehouse! LOVE!}, I am hoping we get a chance to see one in person sometime soon once the stores start stocking them.

Besides being adorable, fun, and a great way to inspire imaginations, I also love anamalz as a company.  Their toys are designed in Australia and made from sustainable maple wood and textiles, which means that in addition to being irresistible, they are also eco-friendly. It’s really no wonder they have been collecting awards since they were released, and that they are one of the companies you should definitely be watching over the next few months.  With the release of their much anticipated prehistoric series which joins the Farm, Australian and Wild collections this year, they are going to be a big hit for birthdays and holidays for both boys and girls.

 
To learn more about this great line and find out how anamalz are saving animals, you should check out the anamalz website.  You can find out facts about each animal, drool over the anamalz line, and even register your critters with their site – all while rocking out.

 
Thanks to their generosity, one lucky Rave and Review reader will win 3 anamalz of their choice!

To Enter: Simply visit anamalz.com and tell me what 3 you would like if you win 

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) Like anamalz on Facebook {2 extra entries, just leave your FB name in comment}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following {daily Tweet, just post link here}

"Have you seen how adorable anamalz are? @raveandreview has a great #giveaway where you can win 3 of your choice! http://bit.ly/iSOdB1" 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website {2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R}

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On August 4th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here, and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

16 gretchen jackson said... CUTE! I want WAY more than 3 for my kiddos but i'd start with Cow, Pig, Ram probably... :)

A big thank you to anamalz for providing the animals and tree for review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review. 

G.I.Y. with Clorox Green Works {with $1 off coupon}

Clorox Green Works has recently teamed up with Carter Oosterhouse to help spread the word about some great ideas to help you Green It Yourself {a.k.a. G.I.Y., like D.I.Y.... only greener} around your house.  By watching the short videos posted on the Green Works Facebook page you can see both big and small changes you can make around your home to make it more “green” every day.

I personally loved the G.I.Y. episode focusing on the kitchen as that is our biggest source of waste in our home.  From food packaging to cleaning products, I feel like all my attempts of making our home more eco-friendly fail in the kitchen.  In the video, they are doing a major remodeling of a family’s kitchen area, complete with new counters, refrigerator, and cupboards.  While this was fun to watch what they did with the space as part of the G.I.Y. movement, I personally got the most out of some of the small changes they made for the family that just about anyone can do. 

I have been a huge fan of Green Works dishwashing liquid for quite some time, but until I watched the video I had not realized they also carried other items, including compostable cleaning wipes, something I find awesome.  They also showed the coolest composting bin ever that actually makes me want to purchase one for my home.  It wasn’t big, ugly, and scary like I find other composting bins, and it seems like something I might even be able to keep up with – and something my garden could really benefit from!

If you are thinking about adding a little eco-friendliness into your home, I would highly recommend you check out their G.I.Y. videos and ideas.  Bonus: if you “Like” Greenworks on Facebook, you can get a $1 off coupon on your next purchase, something I will definitely be doing!

I am a member of the Mom Bloggers Club and was entered to win a Clorox Green Works giveaway for posting about the GIY movement.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this post.

Create Your Own Fairy Garden with Plow & Hearth {$50 Giveaway}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 20

Everyone that knows me understands my deep love of everything miniature.  While I was hoping my daughter would take an interest in miniatures as well, I was thrilled when I realized that she might love them even more than I do.  Because of our shared love {and my apparent need for yet another hobby}, we decided we were going to create a miniature fairy garden in our backyard this spring. 

Because, really, what kid doesn't want to create a miniature world in their own backyard?

I didn’t search long to find our inspiration for the fairy garden, because Plow & Hearth, one of my favorite stores ever, had the perfect starting point.  Sold in either a "fairy town" or "fairy village" set or in individual pieces, Plow & Hearth has the cutest little fairy village accessories ever.  From windmills to cottages to official fairy mail, the collection has everything you could possibly want for creating a fairy haven. 

While it didn’t take me long to find the fairy accessories, what did take long was deciding which of their collection I loved the most.  I finally decided on getting our town in pieces instead of a set because of the great prices as well as the fact that I fell in love with some of the individual buildings which were too adorable to pass up.  And, when our collection of goodies arrived, it was even cuter in person. 

Unfortunately, our plans for a garden in early spring were shattered when the words “frost” and “snow” and then “rain” made it into every weather report for months.  Luckily, my daughter enjoyed playing with the fairy village in the comfort of home so much that she forgot they were actually supposed to go outside.  So, when the weather cleared and we were finally able to bring the accessories out to dig and create, the look on her face was simply priceless.

From the ground work all the way to the finishing touches, the fairy garden we have created has been a fun project for the whole family.  Whether we are dreaming up new additions to the design or are outside digging in the soil and learning about nature together, the memories we have created together are truly incredible. 

Now that the project is complete, I love watching our daughter play in “her” garden for hours, finding bugs and worms as well as playing with the little accessories we’ve added throughout.  Even though we are incredibly happy with the way it turned out, we are always on the hunt for more additions to the town and have found that the creative process is just as fun as actually playing with it once it’s built.    

Are you interested in creating your own mini village?  Of course you are! 

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Start with a shady part of your yard.  We chose a spot right under a tall tree, so she could play out there for hours without being out in the direct sun.  Added bonus: the tree just makes the garden feel even more magical and like it’s her private “world”.
2. Prepare the ground by removing large stones, sharp objects, or large plants that would look out of place in a miniature garden.  We dug up all the grass out of that portion of the yard and then brought in transplanted moss to act as fairy “grass” and then planted some great ground covers that will eventually spread and become a lush fairy landscape.  If you would like to grow your own moss, you can even buy a great “moss milkshake” from HearthSong
3. Add some height to your design.  We used rock planters and turned them upside down to act as hills for the houses to sit upon.  You could use large stones, mounds of dirt, or simply build your fairy village on a slanted surface. 
4. Place the houses, buildings, and accessories from Plow & Hearth in town formation.  We put the wishing well and fairy mail station in the center of our design, the working windmill on the highest point, the two cottages around the well, and the mill house along the “river bank” to add to the village feel, but part of the fun of creating your own town is that there is no wrong way to design it!
5. Add in extra botanical accents like small-leaf herbs and plants, or small budding flowers.  For our garden we chose the blue star creeper, thyme, and some cute little succulents, as well as some green ground covers that were all sized appropriately for our village scale.  Note: If you have young kids, you can get some great edible options for these and, as a huge bonus, you can actually eat what your kids grow!
6. Have fun building and creating little accessories on your own.  For our design, we added hand painted pinch pots, fused glass stepping stones, a twig trellis, some mama-made polymer clay gnomes and mushrooms, handmade garden markers, and some $1 store mini animals and plastic fence, all of which make the garden simply enchanting as well as fun for hours of play.
7. Sit back and adore. 

If you have a small child, have a love of miniatures, or simply have a lackluster yard, a fairy village from Plow & Hearth is a great way to add interest.  Whether you are sprucing up an under-utilized portion of your yard or are giving the kids their own place to play and dig, you are sure to create what is quite possibly the coolest garden hideaway ever. 

Find the whole miniature fairy garden set at Plow & Hearth as well as hundreds of other decor, furniture, and accessories for making your home and yard a haven.  http://www.plowhearth.com/

 
Thanks to their generosity, one lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Gift Card to spend at Plow & Hearth!

To Enter: Simply visit Plow and Hearth and tell me what you would buy with your $50 gift card.

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) Like Plow and Hearth on Facebook - it's a great way to know about all their great promos! {2 extra entries, just leave your FB name in comment}

 

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both {daily Tweet, just post link here}

"I love @PlowAndHearth! Enter to win a $50 Plow & Hearth Gift Card from @raveandreview and fix up your home for summer http://bit.ly/kRfxyr" 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website {2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R}

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On August 1st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here, and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#458 GeorgiaMist said...

(1) Your blog's button posted here:

http://gatheringmyroses.blogspot.com/p/my-favourite-blogs.html

A big thank you to Plow & Hearth for providing the garden accessories for review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.  Pictured: Miniature Fairy Village Working Windmill, Miniature Fairy Village Alpine Cottage, Miniature Fairy Village Woods Cottage, Miniature Fairy Village Wishing Well, Miniature Fairy Village Mill, and Miniature Fairy Mailbox from Plow & Hearth

Milk Nursingwear {Review & Giveaway}

Have you shopped for nursing wear recently?  I have breastfed babies for 26 months in total and during that time I have owned exactly one cute nursing top.  One.  In 26 months.  This means that 99.9% of the time I am wearing my “mom uniform”, a tank top with a cardigan or hoodie, so I can breastfeed easily.  That’s over 2 years of drab-ness, if anyone is counting.

So, when Milk Nursingwear invited me to pick something out of their extensive catalog, I was like a kid in a candy store.  No, make that a baby in milk shoppe… er, something like that.  Somehow that analogy went way wrong, but either way, I was excited. 

When it came time to actually decide what I wanted most of all the things I was drooling over, I narrowed it down to their dresses.  With a summer vacation on the horizon and warm weather on my mind {but NOT on the forecast… oh, Washington… sigh}, I knew that I wanted to get something fun and cool for my warm weather wardrobe.  The moment I laid eyes on the Flirty Halter Dress from Milk Nursingwear in black, I knew it was it. 

And I was even more impressed upon seeing my LBND {little black nursing dress, naturally} in person.  It is made of super soft 95% cotton and 5% lycra which means it is machine washable and unwrinkles upon unfolding, making it perfect for parks or for dressier occasions.  After it was out of the package I immediately had to model it, and found that it was just as flattering as I had hoped.

One thing I loved right away was the adjustable tie that allows you to get the perfect fit, something which I hadn’t realized would be that important.  Because the dress is designed for pregnancy, nursing, and beyond, I really like that I can customize the fit as my shape changes.  Also, instead of  deep V that is a bit much while breastfeeding, the Flirty Halter has a crisscrossed V top that is less revealing but still fun and flirty. 

When wearing for nursing, the top layer of this empire top lifts up revealing a built-in shelf bra with access openings for discreet nursing.  What’s great about this is that it doesn’t look at all like a nursing top when in place, it just looks like a really cute empire waist dress! 

Because I love the fit and finish of the Flirty Nursing Halter Dress, I am looking forward to wearing my LBND for a long, long time, well after I have stopped lactating and have {hopefully} returned to my pre-pregnancy size for good.  For the price and the fact that it can easily be worn well after the babies are grown, I think it is a must-have for pregnant and nursing moms during the warm weather months.

Buy it: The Flirty Halter Dress retails for $49.00 from Milk Nursingwear.  When you purchase, you should join the Milk Money Rewards program and receive one rewards point for every dollar you spend on the site.  Rewards points can be redeemed for dollars off your next purchase at Milk!

http://www.milknursingwear.com/

One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win their favorite item at Milk Nursingwear!

To Enter: You must perform at least one of the following actions to be eligible for the prize drawing. Yes, you can earn 2 entries for doing both!

Tweet the following: "WOW the nursing wear by Milk Nursingwear is so pretty! http://www.milknursingwear.com" OR "Like" Milk Nursingwear on Facebook

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Visit the MilkNursingWear site and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click on "Like" {this is different than "Liking" them on Facebook!}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Looking for adorable nursing wear? Enter to #win an item of choice from @MilkNursingWear & @raveandreview #giveaway http://bit.ly/l5FEJu

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries)

On July 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#100 Jason and Anna Pry said...

blogged it: http://freeindeedblogger.blogspot.com/2011/07/milk-nursingwear.html

Thank you to Milk Nursingwear for sending a sample dress for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Happy Summer Solstice!

It's {finally} summer!  Can I get a woo hoo? 

Seriously, Washington was dealt the worst. spring. ever.  As in a snowy spring.  As in record rainfall.  Bleh!  I really couldn't be happier to welcome summer after such a long, wet, and cold spring. I say bring on the sun!

Oh, and that spring/summer event about getting outside and playing?  Yes, it's still happening, but the emphasis ended up being pushed a little more on the summer portion.  Can you blame me - who wants to review outdoor equipment in the rain?  Stay tuned for the last half of the Get Out and PLAY event, which just might take place OUTSIDE! 

{P.S. it's still got thousands more in giveaways coming up!}

Also, you may have noticed that Rave and Review made the leap to Facebook.  Yes, THE FACEBOOK, the one that everyone including your dear old grandma is now a member of.  Well, Rave and Review finally got wind of it and is taking it by storm... with a whopping 180-ish fans as of today. 

Wanna share some love and come and keep me company on Facebook?  I've got a caption contest going for no other reason than the fact that I couldn't squeeze a conversation out of anyone and was starting to get scared that I might talk to myself forever on there before someone responded.  Feel free to suggest a caption, or just to start any sort of conversation at all... Really.  At all. 

Have a wonderful Summer Solstice today and enjoy this picture I snapped of my daughter for her third birthday...

How to Create a Hanging Garden {Review & $100 ATG Stores Giveaway}

Get Out and PLAY Event – Day 19

For the past four summers I have been cultivating a small, urban vegetable garden in our backyard.  The challenge was how to not completely take over our small plot of land so we could leave space for the kids to play, but to still be able to grow a substantial amount of food in the small space.  This year we decided to look for vertical options, using space that has until now, been completely unutilized in our yard.

The answer was a Lakeland Mills Hanging Garden from ATG Stores that allows us to create a whole new dimension of gardening and turn everything we know about gardening {literally} upside down. 

Hanging gardens can be planted in one of two ways – in baskets or buckets that take your container garden and suspend it, or upside down in planters that allow your plants to actually grow downward instead of up {often called inverted gardening}.  With the Lakeland Mills Hanging Garden, you can plant either upright or upside down, and in a variety of different configurations to suit your garden, which makes it ideal for gardeners of all types. 

Because we grow lots of tomatoes, vining cucumbers, beans, eggplants, peppers, and peas, we designated a portion of the hanging garden to upside down planting in large buckets, and then we did some herbs, lettuce and pepper plants in the tops of the buckets, maximizing the space for vegetables and herbs and giving them the best environments to flourish.

  Steps to create a hanging garden:
1)    Purchase the Lakeland Mills Hanging Garden from ATG Store that suits your needs – choose from small, medium, or large.  We chose the medium size which was perfect for our fence height and raised bed size.
2)    Purchase 4-6 buckets with nice metal hangers.  The buckets we bought were standard size and grade because we wanted them to match, but you can actually get free or cheap buckets at many restaurants.
3)    Drill small holes in the buckets for drainage and large holes for inverted planting.
4)    This step is only for inverted planting only: Starting inside the bucket, I worked the tops of our vegetable starts through the drilled holes, leaving the root ball inside the bucket all ready for fresh soil to be added to the top. 
5)    Hang the buckets by their metal handles by unhooking one side and re-attaching it once around the cross bar, and then fill 2/3 full with a mix of organic vegetable soil. 
6)    Add herbs and small veggie starts on top and fill to ¾ with dirt.

As an added bonus, if you are starting your planting early in the season {or happen to be having a cold spring as we are in Washington}, you can easily cover your vegetable starts by draping a cover over the hanging garden without damaging the plants inside.  It’s a great way to extend the growing season and protect against unexpected spring frost, which would have been really nice this year. 

How we designed our garden:  We used 6 buckets for our garden and opted to use 3 of the buckets for inverted planting with plants on top and then 3 buckets that only have starts at the top.  This was a good way for us to almost triple the space we had available this year by utilizing the tops and bottoms of the buckets as well as the raised beds below the hanging garden.  While we could have easily added even more vegetables to the hanging system, we wanted to see how we did with a smaller amount first and will likely try even more next year to even further maximize its usefulness. 

Another huge bonus of a hanging garden is that it requires less weeding and pest control than in-ground or raised bed gardening does.  Typically the slugs get my lettuce in my raised bed, so I was really happy to raise it up out of harm’s way this year on the hanging garden cross bars.  When the garden does need tending to, I also find that it is easier to care for the hanging garden as the plants are all higher and easy for me to reach without having to stoop or require knee protection.  Since I was in a bad accident a few months back that gives me limited mobility, I really appreciate the ease of caring for the hanging garden this year especially.  

Whether you are working with a small lot, a concrete or wood slatted space, or simply want to raise your vegetables out of reach of animals and pests, growing a vertical vegetable garden just makes sense.  You can easily produce a good deal of fresh vegetables without taking up excess space or needing to give up your entire yard with this easy-to-use, and high quality system from ATG Stores.  In addition to hanging gardens, ATG Stores has a variety of different items to help make your backyard your own oasis, including patio furniture, grills, and more.  Whether you are looking to create a backyard “room” or a play area for kids and adults, ATG Stores is a great place to start your search.   

Want to see what's top of my wishlist for my garden for next year?  I will definitely be ordering this compact greenhouse from ATG Stores to kick start my garden next spring... or maybe I should just get it for the fall? 

One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $100 Gift Code to spend at ATG Stores!

To Enter: Simply visit ATG Stores and tell me what set you would choose to spend your $100 credit on

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like ATG Stores on Facebook - a great way to keep up on contests and promotions!

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Win a $100 Gift Certificate to @ATGStores from @raveandreview #giveaway http://bit.ly/kPVHfB US & CAN

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries)

On July 22nd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Open to US & Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#736 Liz Neal said... FB follower

Thank you to ATG Stores for getting us started with inverted gardening with the Lakeland Mills Hanging Garden as well as offering a $100 giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

phil & teds Metro Backpack Carrier: Father's Day Pick

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 18

The more I learn about Phil&Teds, the more I covet every single item they make.  From the moment I started thinking babies, there was one children’s company that just stood out in every way.  Maybe it’s their modern and minimalistic design, or maybe it’s the fact that my husband is like a {unpaid} salesman for the company, but it always seemed we came back to Phil&Teds whenever we were discussing our ultimate baby wish list. 

Now that we’ve got two kidlets to chase after, the idea of “hands free” is not a luxury, it’s a survival skill.  With two kids comes two sets of gear and accessories, as well as twice the opportunity for disaster, all of which forces you to be prepared on a level you never thought possible.  Phil&Teds understands that gear that is smarter and more efficient makes everything more fun, which is why even those without children are likely to have a soft spot for this fun company that set out to change parenting on the go. 

Our latest love is the Phil&Teds Metro Backpack Carrier that is perfect for the urban wild as well as the great outdoors.  Made with heavy duty rip-stop and waterproof materials with a serious metal framed carrier, the Metro makes it possible to take your tyke anywhere that you can go, and is bound to be the daddy pick of carriers.

Features of the Metro Backpack Carrier we’re raving about: a custom fit with a fully adjustable back height and hip belt which means mama and daddy-o can both use it, a slim profile that makes it ideal for crowded spaces as well as enjoying nature, a lightweight aluminum frame {4.4lbs} that holds plenty of gear along with baby, and a small folded profile that doesn’t take up excess space when not in use. 

In addition to all these features that make it a top pick for performance, the Metro is also supremely comfortable for you and for baby even for long excursions.  It comes with firm padded shoulder straps and ventilating mesh back pads for you and a super soft and adjustable child seat for the little one that makes it one of the most comfortable carriers we have tried.  Should weather threaten your good time, the Metro comes standard with a sunhood as well as a removable wind/rain cover to keep your little one protected and secure.

When brainstorming the best uses for the  Metro Backpack, we had  no shortage of places that a slim profile backpack carrier would be the ideal choice.  From outdoor concerts and festivals to beach walks and rugged trails, the Metro Backpack is the perfect choice for anytime you want the luxury of walking at adult speed with little ones in tow but don’t want to look like you just came down from the mountains.  We extensively tested this throughout the past month at various locations in the Pacific Northwest and found that the Metro is great and roomy without feeling like overkill for just a quick walk to the cornerstore and back.

If you are going for the Mountain Man look and feel, Phil&Teds has the Escape Backpack Carrier that is ideal for storing extra gear for the great outdoors.  With a zip off daypack, hydration pack, and roomy cargo areas, it would be the ideal choice for the rural parent.

No matter what your adventure, Phil&Teds has you covered this Father’s Day and beyond.  You can buy the Metro Backpack Carrier at the Phil&Teds direct or at numerous local retailers throughout North America and the world over.  Still not sure what Dad of the Year would like?  Get him a Gift Voucher from the Phil&Teds site! 

Features of the Metro Backpack Carrier
•    Lightweight and tough aluminum frame
•    Durable, waterproof, washable nylon (300 and 600 denier)
•    Ample cargo space
•    Sun hood with removable wind and rain cover included
•    Folds flat for easy storage
•    Self-standing stable base for safe loading and unloading
•    Change sheet for clean tushies on the go
•    Fully adjustable harness for Mom and Dad
•    Compact, sleek design for managing crowds and tight spaces
•    Padded and adjustable child harness
•    Takes your baby from 3-4 months to 3 years (about 16-40 lbs.)
•    Carrier weight: 4.4 lbs.
•    Tough and waterproof 300 & 600 denier fabrics
•    Dimensions: Unfolded 27.6" x 12.6" x 16.5"/Folded 27.6" x 12.6" x 4.7"
•    U.S. and European safety certified

A big thank you to Phil&Teds for sending their Metro Backpack Child Carrier to be reviewed.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Béaba Bib’expresso All-in-One Super Cool Feeding Gadget

I was really lucky and was able to breastfeed my first child for 16 months before switching to bottles, but my second take at breastfeeding hasn’t quite panned out like I had hoped.  First there were supply issues and engorgement, and then there were growth issues and latching problems, and finally the choice was made to supplement with formula as well as give bottles of breastmilk this time around. 

Because I was spoiled with being able to breastfeed for so long the first time, I really didn’t understand the pain that bottles, feedings, and formula can be until just recently.  Now I can see why there are a million and a half gadgets for feeding infants and babies - it’s all about making the whole process a little bit easier on everyone. 

When I first decided we were going to supplement, I mistakenly thought it was going to be more convenient, but that’s before I realized what all was involved in warming, preparing, and cleaning bottle accessories after each feeding.  And, the annoyances just keep coming… first, there’s all the bottles filling up your dishwasher, then you need a way to warm up formula, food, and breastmilk, and finally, there’s the sterilizer to keep everything safe for baby to consume. 

I had seen bottle warmers before when I was registering during my first pregnancy, but even at the time I thought they were a bit silly.  Why buy something that has such a limited lifespan, only does one single function, and takes up so much room if you can make do without?  Recently, I found my answer: because having to “make do” for over a year just isn’t any fun. 

What if I told you that there was a super cool new feeding gadget that solves all of these problems and more?  Introducing the Béaba Bib'expresso, the first all-in-one feeding gadget that allows you to prepare bottles, breastmilk, solid foods and more as well as well as sterilize {and store} your accessories. 

Want to hear more about this clever little machine?
 
Now, instead of heating up water for bottles by running them under incredibly hot tap water or in the microwave {which, FYI, is not recommended}, I can make a bottle of formula with the simple press of a button with no fear of hot spots or burning.  Want to heat up breastmilk or baby food?  Simply fill the water tank and press a button and it heats the water to warm for feeding quickly and easily.  If that wasn’t enough, you can also sterilize and store your bottles and accessories with the Bib’expresso!

Features of the Bib’expresso we’re raving about: As cool as the unit is as a whole, it also comes apart and allows you to use each of its functions separately as your needs change.  The upper water tank and sterilizer/storage compartment are both removable for use without the base and both can be used for other functions even after the bottle stage.  In fact, I use the Bib’expresso daily with my daughter, making her cocoa, cleaning her cups and straws, and heating up foods that don’t do well in the microwave. 

Béaba also makes a homemade baby food maker that could be used with the Bib’expresso, allowing you to warm foods made with their Béaba Babycook {which I have heard wonderful things about}.  While I am loving the Bib’expresso for the bottle stage, I really love that it is perfect for warming homemade baby food.  This is going to be a feature I will use for years and years as my kids eat baby food well after bottles are through, and using the microwave is not recommended for heating from frozen.  To save on counter space, I will simply use the top portion of the Bib’expresso on its own and make defrosting and heating incredibly easy.

Béaba Bib'expresso specs:
•    Bottle preparation in 90 seconds.
•    Safe - The bottle is always at the right temperature thanks to direct water control
•    Practical - direct water flow mixes the powder formula and helps ensure more even temperature
•    Easy to Use - just one hand required to prepare the bottle
•    Removable, ultra-compact bottle and food warmer can be used anywhere
•    Microwavable sterilizer/bottle storage compartment included. Can hold up to three 10 ounce (300 ml) bottles. Protects sterilized bottles from light and dust and keeps them handy and ready to use when preparing baby's bottle.
•    Self-cleaning steam system for in-depth cleaning of the device.
•    Product can be used after baby for preparing beverages with hot water such as tea and hot cocoa.
•    BPA-free.

Buy It: The Bib’expresso retails for $129.95 and you can find it at Amazon.com, PamperedTot.com, and at BeabaUSA.com.  More info, images, and web tutorial videos can be found on the Beaba site.

While Béaba provided me with a Bib'expresso to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Béaba, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Real Tools for Kids from Red Toolbox: Father's Day Pick

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 17

When I first found out I was pregnant, all I could think about was little itty bitty cuteness.  But, while I was dreaming of small clothing and even tinier shoes and accessories, my husband was looking much further ahead.  He had already set his heart on road trips to the Grand Canyon stopping at every cheesy landmark along the way, hiking to the top of every mountain near us, and teaching our kids how to fix stuff in the garage and house. 

So, when Father’s Day rolls around each year I don’t look for matching t-shirts and onesies, I look for hiking and camping equipment and other stuff to do together in the future.  Backbacks to grow into, sports equipment for kids twice our children’s ages, and camping gear that really is meant for adults… that will probably be outdated before either child ever can use it. 

Well, at least I used to buy stuff for the future.  This year I found the perfect gift for my husband {and my daughter} that allows them to do what they do best – hang out together.  That gift is from Red Toolbox, the maker of carpentry tools and kits for kids.

Instead of toy tools that are merely for play, the kids tools from Red Toolbox are truly unique in the fact that they are actual tools.  They make tools that work just like adults versions, only on a smaller scale so they are easier for children to manipulate.  Paired with DIY kits that allow for easy projects you can finish in an afternoon or two, it’s got all the makings of a perfect father/daughter {or son, of course} activity.

If your child is anything like mine, they can spot a toy from a mile away and want nothing to do with it if there’s a real version to use.  For this reason, I was a bit apprehensive about what the quality of the Red Toolbox tools would be and what they would look and feel like, fearing they would be discarded as soon as Daddy-O’s tools emerged.  The folks at Red Toolbox must have understood this, because the tools that arrived the other day are nothing if they aren’t cool. 

We got to try out their electric cordless drill, a hanging birdhouse kit, and a 5 piece tool kit {set A}, which includes everything your little one needs to get started – 2 screwdrivers with magnetized tips, a hammer, a tape measure, and safety goggles.  Immediately upon opening the package we were all excited to try the tools and get to work.  Our daughter couldn’t believe that these tools were actually hers, with the quote of the night being, “Oh my goodness, these are AWESOME!”

The kit itself was a level 1 project which made it an easy build with everything already cut to size and pilot holes pre-drilled, which made it a perfect project to start with.  I really liked that everything was clearly labeled and easy to piece together, even for little hands.  Another thing we really appreciated was that all tools needed to build the kit were identified on the side of the package which meant we didn’t get home just to find we needed a different set of tools in order to complete the project. 

Whether she was helping us measure, sand the edges, count out pieces, or screw the birdhouse together using the manual and electric screwdriver, she was having the time of her life.  She is still a bit young for the recommended age range, but I can assure you that she was heavily supervised the entire time and did really well listening to the instructions and helping out.  Because the tools are smaller sized they were easy for her to use, they will be something she can still grow into throughout the years without growing out of too quickly. 

In fact, I made it very well known that I will be frequently borrowing her tools, especially the electric cordless drill for my own projects.  I never have been great at using tools around the house and it has become somewhat of a joke that I always end up with “extra pieces” and extra nail holes.  Having found Red Toolbox, I am really excited that I have found tools that are much easier for me to use for general use without having to pull out my husband’s industrial tools that are much faster and more powerful than I need for my projects. 

As cool as Red Toolbox is, I was incredibly impressed by how affordable the sets are and how fun they are.  Now that we have seen how ready our daughter is for appropriate sized tools and woodworking projects, we will definitely be returning to Lowes to get additional kits for the family to do together.

BUY IT: The tool kits and DIY woodworking projects are sold at Lowes {and lowes.com} so you could easily pick up a few tools and kits before Father’s Day.  Additional information can also be found by visiting www.red-toolbox.com.

A big thank you to Red Toolbox for sending a tool set and DIY kit for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.